The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Good monsoon triggers spurt in elephant attacks

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Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Good monsoon triggers spurt in elephant attacks

Divya Gandhi

36 people killed by elephants in 2007: highest since 2003

Man-elephant conflicts on the rise in Mysore Circle
15 elephants died after touching livewire

A POWERFUL BARRIER: A file picture of elephants straying into a farm, right under the high-tension line in Hassan district.

Bangalore: The intractable human-elephant conflict in the State has intensified this year with the number of fatalities touching a six year high.

As many as 36 people were killed by rampaging elephants, 24 elephants were electrocuted, and 12 elephants were hunted down by poachers for ivory in 2007-08, according to the Forest Department.

Of the 24 elephants electrocuted, 15 died after coming into contact with livewires deliberately placed in their path, according to the Forest Department.

These figures had exceeded even the huge casualties seen in 2003, a drought year, when 31 people were killed in elephant attacks.

While the geographical pattern of poaching remained the same, with the largest number recorded in Kollegal in Chamarajnagar, the site of the human-elephant conflict appeared to have shifted from Chamarajnagar into the Mysore circle, which includes Bandipur and Nagarhole.

The Mysore circle recorded the largest number of human casualties (13) and elephants electrocuted (eight) this year. In 2006-07, one person died and six elephants were electrocuted when they came in contact with the livewires drawn by farmers in this area.

It is too early to see this geographical shift in conflict as permanent, said Raman Sukumar, Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science.

However, a similar escalation in conflict, and especially in human death, was observed across India in 2003, a drought year, when more elephants ventured into habitation in search of food and water, he said.

“The rise in the number of incidents this year could ironically have to do with a good monsoon in 2007. An increase in farm productivity naturally draws elephants into areas where crops such as sugarcane and banana are grown,” he said.

But these figures could not be seen from a purely biological point of view, said Prof. Sukumar.

They highlighted the need for more stringent anti-poaching and vigilance measures by the Forest Department. “While electric fences and chilli-tobacco grease are good psychological deterrents for elephants, the department should think of mechanical boundaries to protect farmland,” he said.

There should be joint patrolling by the Forest Department and the power utilities to prevent the electrocution of elephants, the commonest method employed by farmers to kill them, Prof. Sukumar said.

“Generally, a wire is attached to high voltage main and placed on the route frequented by the elephant. This is a violation of the Electricity Act,” he said.

According to P. Anur Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), the number of cases of poaching in Chamarajnagar circle had reduced in the last six months with anti-poaching operations having been stepped up in the area, he said.

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